"We think that's wrong and he should not have accepted a part that gives a positive outlook on murder and killing a child."

Headache for organisers

The film, set in the 1940s, is based on John Irving's bestseller, which angered abortion opponents when it was published in 1985. It grossed $23m before winning seven Oscar nominations last month, including best picture.

The intended protest is just the latest headache for the organisers; last week, all the Oscar statuettes went missing, only to turn up a few days later in a rubbish skip.